Updated on Volvos push to become an electric car company. The company says they have a 5 year $1.2 Billion investment and plan to bring the Recharge concept to market. The project started back in 2006 and they showed off the Prototype C30 in 2007. Since then the company seems be in hiding and may even be on the chopping block and sold off by the parent company Ford. They are looking for buyers, but no takers as of yet.

Ford vice president of sales and marketing Ken Czubay said in a statement.: “We continue to operate in a very challenging economic and competitive environment,”

What does that mean, for all the very promising technology designed into the C30? Will we ever see it in a Volvo or any of the other Ford brands? Isn’t this exactly the thing Ford needs to save their company? The prototype test vehicle uses the same type of technology GM says they are rolling out in the Volt. An electric motor system assisted by a small gas engine generator, which would only produce electricity for the electric motors to us. The Volvo concept takes that a step further by placing the motors in the wheels.

The Prototype C30 Technology test and concept vehicle that works: an electric car with a combustion engine as backup. It’s called the Volvo ReCharge, and it reminds us a lot of the Chevy Volt. Except that it looks likes a Volvo C30 hatchback and has funky green wheels.

Ford seems to be going down kicking and screaming and have only just begun to see the the green future growing before their eyes. Everyone knows in business, one simple principle has always rings true — build products the public is demanding and your business will thrive. Or use mass marketing, hot women, celebrities, and reality shows product placement to create an artificial demand for the toxic, low cost, self disintegrating, and bad gas mileage products you already make.

You know Ford is feeling the pressure to actually make better vehicles, when they make crazy announcements proclaiming they will cut greenhouse gases emissions by 30 percent on all vehicles by 2020. That is really crazy serious talk, how can they possibly cut 30 percent in 12 years. Hmm, I have an idea, why don’t they really go for it and just stop all production on gas engines. Think of the money they will save on production. Or better yet, build pure electric or electric and biodiesel hybrids and cut emissions by a whopping 80%, in lets say 4 years. If companies small boot strap companies like Aptera can design vehicles getting 300 miles per gallon, surely Ford spending billions on research can do it quicker, better and cheaper.

Ford is up to something and I like it. Maybe you’re starting to tire of the new concept cars; it seems like they are all starting to look the same. When I saw the Ford Airstream, I thought, “yawn, there’s a concept SUV/van” — but then I saw the inside Continue Reading / See Additional Photos

Members of Ford Motor Company’s Sustainable Mobility team recently joined Southern California Edison in the hopes of perfecting the plug-in hybrid. Sounds like a good team when you consider that it was Ford who brought us the world’s first hybrid SUV and that Edison currently holds the nation’s record forthe largest and most advanced electric vehicle fleet.

The problem with existing plug-in vehicle technologies, according to an article at Ford.com, is that they’re not competitive or commercially viable – mainly because the current batteries needed to run them aren’t up to consumer demands in terms of price, durability or reliability. But Ford and Edison are striving to change that, to develop a plug-in that will take over the masses, that will consume the consumer.

The advantage to fueling at the plug instead of the pump is obviously that it’s less expensive, it reduces petroleum-based greenhouse gases and, if charged at night, would help balance the nation’s energy grid by utilizing electricity during off-peak hours. According to their website, Edison is already offering a substantial savings to customers who charge their electric vehicles between 9:01 pm and 11:59 am.